Things To Look At: State Spirits Excise Tax Rates Map.

So We've All Heard ...
... that Pennsylvania has one of the highest tax rates on the sale of alcohol in these 50 states. But how high is it exactly? With the House set to -- maybe -- take a crack at privatizing Pennsylvania's state-owned liquor stores this fall, it seemed like a worthwhile question to ask.

That's nothing to sneeze at, but it could be worse, you could live in Oregon where, despite everything being painfully hip, consumers pay an eye-watering $23.02 a gallon in taxes -- the second-highest rate in the nation.

Among so-called "control" states, where the government controls the sale of alcohol, Pennsylvania has the fifth-highest excise tax rate. Alabama comes in first at $18.61-per-gallon, according to the Tax Foundation's analysis.

So would there be a savings if Pennsylvania switched over to a fully privatized system? Maybe. Tax rates are lower in non-control states, but the rates vary wildly.

In New York, which has privatized sales, consumers pay $6.44-per-gallon in excise taxes. And in the cheap booze haven of New Jersey, the gallonage tax is $5.50. Delaware has the cheapest tax rate among the border states at $3.75.

Current Comments

Why are we still letting states control alcohol taxes and drinking age? It messes up sales revenues and alcohol related crimes at the borders of states. People drive across state lines in border cities. There should be one flat tax and one drinking age limit...we live in one unified country!